When you hear the term “healthy food” you might think of boring, tasteless food. Fortunately, that is not at all what healthy food means. Finding out what healthy foods to eat can benefit your health and provide you with plenty of tasty options. In fact, there are foods that can even heal and provide physical health benefits. Knowing what those foods are can assist you in determining which ones to add to your diet.
Foods for Physical Health
Natural health has become gained the attention of many as traditional forms of health treatment can often cost an arm and a leg, leaving people to seek natural alternatives. There are plenty of foods that can benefit your physical health. For instance, you can eat foods to reduce inflammation, improve your pH balance, lower your blood sugar, eliminate toxins, and improve nutrient intake. Foods that heal include:
- Nuts and seeds
- Fruits
- Fats and oils
- Vegetables
- Carbohydrates (low in fiber)
- Beverages
Of course, that just helps you understand the basics. Knowing what each category of food provides for your health is of greater importance. Also, you should know specifically which foods to eat from each category.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds contain both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are heart healthy fats. There are fats found in many foods that damage the heart, which are trans and saturated fats. You often find unhealthy fats in fatty dairy products, processed and fried foods, and some meats. Consuming nuts and seeds, however, can protect you from various illnesses, such as heart disease. By consuming nuts and seeds, you can improve the health of your heart and protect against stroke, heart attack, arrhythmia, and other heart-related diseases. Consuming healthy fats also helps you reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. To gain the benefits of foods that heal, such as nuts and seeds, try the following:
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Pine nuts
- Brazil nuts
- Flax seeds
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Macadamia nuts
There are plenty of tasty recipes you can create with the nuts and seeds listed above, and many of them are not just healthy, they taste good, too.
Fruit
Fruit is an important component to any healthy diet. In fact, if you are planning to eat healthy, you will find that fruit is the easiest healthy food to consume. Most fruit is sweet, which is appealing for all who have a sweet tooth. It is said that fruits contain several vitamins and minerals, which can improve heart health, reduce heart disease and stroke risks, improve potassium levels, and minimize cancer risks. Fruits that you should add to your diet include:
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Goji berries
- Acai berries
- Cherries
- Apples
- Limes
- Lemons
- Pears
Berries are always the best fruit to eat when looking for foods that heal. There are also some other fruits you can eat, of course, but you should eat them in moderation. Those fruits include:
- Melons
- Mangoes
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Pineapples
You can eat fruits as is, or you can turn them into a healthy dessert. If you are looking for a sweet treat, try mashing or blending up fruits and freezing them. If you blend them well enough, they will provide the consistency of ice cream, so you can have a sweet, fruity flavored “ice cream” that is healthy for you.
Fats and Oils
Fats and oils can contain healthy foods for you just like nuts and seeds. Of course, many people who eat healthy will recommend organic fats and oils. Stay away from heavily processed fats and oils or it will not provide you the healthy benefits you want and need. Fats and oils you should add to your diet include:
- Grapeseed oil
- Pumpkin seed oil
- Coconut oil
- Sesame oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Avocado oil
Even if you opt for organic oils and fats, make sure you do not go overboard.
Vegetables
Vegetables are a very important additive to any healthy diet. When it comes to foods that heal, vegetables are a primary category. Vegetables contain several vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients to protect your body from illnesses. The right vegetables can protect from common illnesses, like the cold, promote healing, improve heart health, and reduce the risk of serious illnesses, such as cancer. Vegetables you should add to your diet are:
- Cauliflower
- Olives
- Onions
- Garlic
- Brussel sprouts
- Collard greens
- Ginger root
- Green lettuces
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Mustard greens
- Kale
- Cabbage
Green leafy vegetables often offer the best health benefits. They contain a lot of iron, which can prevent illnesses and diseases involving your blood. Low iron, which is also known as anemia, can make you feel tired, under the weather, and lead to easy bruising. There are other vegetables you can add to your healthy diet, but remember to consume them in moderation. These vegetables include:
- Carrots
- Peas
- Okra
- Artichokes
- Beets
- Tomatoes
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Leeks
For best results, consider eating vegetables raw rather than cooked. For instance, eat raw carrots, raw spinach, and raw cauliflower. When you cook vegetables, you can reduce their nutrient content.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can provide you with energy and necessary grains to keep your body healthy. However, you should make sure the carbohydrates you consume are low in fiber. Healthy carbs that are low in fiber include:
- Quinoa
- Corn
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Sprouted grains
- Steel cut oats
- Buckwheat
- Millet
- Sweet potatoes
- Yams
- Wild rice
Like many of the other foods on this list, make sure you eat carbohydrates in moderation.
Beverages
When it comes to beverages, you absolutely cannot beat the healing benefits of water. Water is something your body needs and many people do not consume enough water day-to-day. If you do not drink water, you run the risk of dehydration and several other illnesses. Water can protect you against fatigue, illness, and dehydration. That is not to say that water is the only beverage you must drink when eating healthy. Other beverages you can enjoy include:
- Water with lemon
- Herbal teas
- Fermented drinks
- Raw vegetable juice
- Freshly squeezed fruit juice
When it comes to herbal teas, consider drinking green tea. Green tea can offer benefits that can improve your health and even help you burn fat by improving your ability to burn calories. Although you can drink beverages other than water, make sure you still consume plenty of water daily to stay healthy and promote healing.
Overall
Eating healthy is not nearly as hard as it might seem once you know what foods you can eat. There are plenty of foods you can eat, but you must practice eating in moderation with many of them. Make sure you pay attention to food labels, too. If you notice a high amount of sugars or unhealthy fats, keep looking. The goal is to eat foods that improve the health of your body. Fortunately, if you improve the health of your body, you can subsequently improve the state of your mental health. It is often said that people who suffer physical health ailments will also suffer from mental health ailments. If you have questions about eating healthy, talk to your doctor. A doctor can advise you about what choices to make and the best portion sizes for you based on your age, weight, and gender. There is no specific amount you should consume because it really depends on the person.